~Burdon~

I woke abruptly to see myself face to face with the dirt floor. Again.
My back was inflamed as I took in the fact that my hands are tied low behind my back and so were my feet. So, because I was on my stomach, I couldn't lift myself off of the filthy ground enough to know where I am. But what I did know-from observing what is in front of me, which isn't much-is that I'm laying in a dirt-covered cave, flat on my face. Also... that I had a pounding headache. And I saw a huge pair of boots in front of me.
"How's your head?" inquired Grandfather from above.
"How's your integrity?"
"If you are this angry about me kidnapping you, I won't tell you where we are."
I tried looking above his feet, but couldn't. "Where are we?"
"Canis Lupus."
He might've well said 'your worst nightmare' because those two words brought shivers down my spine. And I grew as still as a statue, like a deer in front of moving car. Right before I flexed my fingers, anticipating my next move. But my Grandfather did nothing.
So I rubbed my temples-as best as I could with my hands tied behind my back-as to get rid of my pounding headache, as I snarled, "Why did you bring me here? I told you I wanted nothing to do with Canis Lupus!"
"You know why!" growled Grandfather, flashing his teeth at me and staring me down.
"I. Don't. Care!" I yelled, growling at the end. The act of showing my teeth to him to prove my dominance; and to get him to submit.
"You may not, but a lot of people are going through with this, so you might as well get comfortable with it. Because this is your life now, Ecoè. Whether you like it or not." Looking at me with a stern look on his face, unlike the goofy face I'm used to-when I was I child that is.
I scoffed in disgust. "All for the name of science, right?"
All of the sudden a look of sorrow filled my Grandfather's eyes. "That's certainly the reason your Father uses."
That rubbed my fur the wrong way. I bared my teeth as I boomed out, "I want no relationship with that monster! He's-"
"Your biological father," interrupted Grandfather. "You are related to him through blood, whether you like it or not. No matter what you may do, you will always be linked to him through that."
"I bet science could change that," I muttered, moodily, while no longer looking at him.
"Not even science could change it-"
I placed my curled fists onto my hips. "What?! Science can't once for once change something?! What a shock!" I said, highly sarcastically. My hand then settled on my chin in a mock thinking manner. "And here I thought science fixed everything!" My hands motion in a half circled gesture as I exclaimed, oh so mockingly, "Including issues between family members!"
"This is not a matter to take lightly, Ecoè! This is serious! It's time to grow up, and stop acting like a pup."
Pup?! I mentally demanded. How dare he call me a pup!
"Pup? You did not just call me a pup!" I snarled before growling.
"Yes, I called you a pup. Mostly because you have not fully mature yet..." My Grandfather seemed to pause for a moment before he stepped up to me, gripping my shoulder, saying, "And there's the fact that you are still obvious."
"Of what?" I questioned.
"This," said Grandfather, quite plainly actually, before searing pain flared through leg.
I glanced down at my leg to see a dart sticking out. "What?" I gasped out before I met my old friend, the floor.

∞∞∞

"How's your leg?" questioned my Grandfather, sitting across from me in a chair.
I groaned in response. Also from the worsen headache, courtesy of the dart; and the constant reminder that I had been stabbed, also a courtesy of the dart.
"I'm sorry. But you were getting too effected by the Canis Lupus. Please forgive me for bringing this upon you."
I glared at him from the position on the bed I'm on-still suspicious. "Then why did you do it?"
I saw him shift uneasily in his seat, like he was uncomfortable-which he should be, with the way he brought me here. "Because I had no other choice but to deliver you here."
"Wha-"
Before I knew it, shackles appeared around my wrists and ankles. And immediately I fought against the shackles holding me down; fighting like a animal. I pulled and tugged against them as best as I can.
"I'm sorry that this had come upon you. Forgive me."
In that moment, I actually did feel the hurt of his betrayal so much that I wanted to beat him to the ground and show him that what he has done is not okay. But, fortunately for him, I couldn't free myself.
A door to my right burst opened all of the sudden; and doctors and nurses covered in scrubs filled the room.
No, I thought, as terror filled me. No! No, not again! And I struggled against the restraints holding me down.
But, as much as I struggled, the more powerful the hands that were holding me down-poking and prodding me-became. Until I couldn't even twitch.
And even after all of that, Grandfather still had the courage to come over and stroke my head. "Be brave, my little lutador, be brave," is what he said before the anesthesia mask came down and it was lights out for me.

∞

When I woke up I saw that Malhaw and my Father were standing over me. Slowly, I got up and out of bed. Malhaw and my Father said nothing, just stared at down at me. Then, the dragon, who hatched last night, jumped up off of my bed and sat down next to me, curling it's tail around my leg.
"So what are you going to name her?" asked Malhaw.
"I don't have to give her one now, do I?"
"It will be for the best if you do. Considering the place we're in. I can give you some suggestions if you like."
"Yes, please."
"Miremel named after a brown dragon, Ophelia, Lenora, Roslarb, Sapphira, Horea, Licá, Lixá and many more."
"Not Miremel, Roslarb, Horea... Lenora, Ophelia, Lixá. Licá," I said. The name just seems right.
"See if she likes it."
I reach out, searching for the dragon's mind. Once I found it, I asked, Do you like Licá? Yes, said Licá.
Suddenly a door opened, and Lolf and the other Razlks came in the room. I hid Licá underneath a blanket, and I told her to quiet and still. Let's see if this works-if this manages to hide her.
"Time for the boy's training," said Lolf.
"No," argued my Father.
"Yes, you agree to let us train him, so we are going to."
"Didn't realize we had two tyrants in this country instead of one," snapped Father. "What's a tyrant?" asked Lolf.
"A cruel and oppressive ruler."
"I'm not a tyrant!" snarled Lolf.
"I wouldn't be so sure about that."
"I'm going to forget you ever said that, and you're going to regret saying that."
"You're right. I do regret it, I'm sorry," said my Father, mockingly.
I ready to fight if one was going to come, and I can feel it in my guts that it will come.
"Has the egg hatch for the boy yet?" asked Lolf, clearly annoyed.
"If it did, why would we tell you?"
"We made a deal!" yelled Lolf.
"Well, we can not do the deal anymore, and just forget about it."
"Fine, if you won't keep your part of the deal then I won't keep mine." The Razlks started towards us, as if that was the signal. One of the Razlks charged into me. The Razlk attempt to punch me in the face, but I caught his hand and kicked the Razlk in the stomach. I could tell that Licá wanted to jump in and fight, but I ordered her to not to. Surprisingly, she listen to me. The Razlk charged again, but this time he fell down with a arrow in his back. I just stood there, shocked.
"What... just... happened?" I asked to no one really. I went to fight another Razlk, but that one fell down with a arrow in his back too. Then it happened again, and again, and again, and again. Against all odds-well, not all but some odds-we won. Father and Malhaw walked up to me. We all had some bruises, but nothing serious, and they heal quickly, especially Malhaw. We looked at each other as if to say 'what just happened?' But we all picked up all of our stuff instead on focusing on what just had occurred.
We were about to leave when Father said, "Burdenn, you can come out now." Burdenn, slowly, came out of his hiding spot. "He's coming with us," said Father before we could complain. With Burdennn, we walked out of the building. As soon as we left the building we heard a twig snapped.
Not again, I thought. All of us turned to where the twig snapped.
"Show yourself," ordered Father. It was a few seconds before someone stepped out; luckily it wasn't a Razlk. It was a young man who looks around my age-sixteen years old. "Who are you?" asked my Father in his Alpha voice.
"I'm Ryderr," said Ryderr. He has green eyes, black hair, inch or two taller than average height. He has a sword on his hip and a bow with a arrow in the notch and his quiver is half full of arrows. So-based on facts-he was the one who shot the Razlks. I caught his scent it was a werewolf and... Lyare? But that's impossible werewolves and Lyares are enemies, then again werewolves and vampires are enemies, and Malhaw is half werewolf and half day-vampire. "And who are you people?"
"I'm Kar," pointing at himself. "That's Aeri," pointing to me. "That's Malo," pointing to Malhaw. "That's Barber," pointing to Burdenn.
"Why do you people have a strange smell around you guys?" asked Ryderr.
"I would tell you if I was allowed to. Or if you already know about it, and if he allows me too," I said, pointing to Father.
"So, what are you?" asked Father.
Ryderr looked confused, but instead of answering my Father's question, he asked, "So where are you... four going?"
"Pak Island."
"Oh. Me too, I was just on my way there."
"You are?!" asked my Father, Malhaw, and I, surprised.
Ryderr looked confused, saying, "Yes, I just said that. Um... Can I be in your group?"
"Uhh... Sure."
Is he another one of your sons? I asked, suspiciously, and in a challenging way.
No, I let him come because we're heading the same way, snarled my Father. "Let's go," said Father, out loud. And Ryderr picked up his stuff and we ran. Along the way we learn that Ryderr had been kidnapped as a baby and that the kidnapper raise him as her own son, just got away and never learn how to control his werewolf powers-we asked him questions, and he answered them.

∞

After a few hours of running-when it got dark-we finally stopped. We put down our stuff, ate dinner, rolled out their blankets and I almost fell asleep when Father said, "We're going to start on your werewolf training tomorrow." Obviously taking to Ryderr.
"What?!" I demanded, sitting up.
My Father turned around, surprised that I was awake. "Nothing that concerns you, now go back to sleep."
"You said you start his werewolf training tomorrow-"
"Exactly his, which means Ryderr's-not yours." Father, Ryderr, and I were on our feet by then.
"But-"
"And you learned how to prepared for it, and Ryderr has not."
"But I only prepared for it, but I haven't learn how to control and I need to learn how to control it."
"Aeri, go check on Licá." I didn't move from where I stood. "Now," ordered Father, with a growl.
Grumbling, I walked to where Licá was hidden and I let her out. 'You hungry?'
'Yes.' I hand fed her some meat until she was full. 'You're upset.'
'Of course I am! He'll train Ryderr, but not me!'
'Maybe there's a reason,' said Licá, reassuring.
I wasn't reassured. 'Like what?' I snapped.
'Why don't you asked him in the morning when you are not so tired.'
"Fine," I said out loud, putting Licá back in her hiding place. I walked back to my bedroll, slipped down inside of it, and fell asleep.

***

~Karlag~

When I was certain that Burdon was sound asleep-with no chance of him accidentally waking up-I got up, out of my bedroll, pulling my bag out. Opening up the bag, I pulled out the strange creme, and I walked over to where Burdon was sleeping. I opened up the jar, wiped some of the cream onto my finger, and I put a little onto Burdon's eyes. I was in the middle of turning around when I heard him groaned beside me. Worrying that he was waking up, froze. And when he didn't wake-just kept groaning and moaning, then he rolled over-I continued the trek onward towards my bed.
It was just my luck when my other son groaned, and asked, half-asleep, "Father? Is that you?"
Great, I thought, sarcastically. "Yes, it's me." What's a good reason for being out here? Going with the first thing that came to mind, I said, "Nature just called. So I'm going do it."
"O... kay. Ew... Why did you tell me that?" asked Malhaw, half-asleep.
"I don't know why. Well, I got to go-really badly. Go back to sleep now." Apparently Malhaw didn't need an invitation from me, because he was snoring-softly-before I even finished.
Good, I thought, slipping back into my bedroll.
But, apparently, I wasn't home free yet, because Ryderr asked, half-asleep also, "What's wrong? What's going on?"
What? Do these boys super hypersensitive hearing-even for werewolves-that even I'm not aware of? Honestly, I'm being as quiet as I can, but they keep on waking up. What's going on? And should I answer him? Or should I pretend to be asleep? Apparently my question was answered when I heard Ryderr snoring. Laying down on my bedroll again, I let myself go to sleep also.

***

~Burdon~

I felt myself walking. When opened I eyes and saw that I was in some enchanted forest. I looked down and saw that my clothes were ripped to shreds; I looked down at his hands and saw that my fingernail has taken that shape of a claws. There was a puddle near by and I ran up to it, I saw my reflection. My eyes were glowing, my nose was all scrunched up-like a wolf. And when I opened my mouth, I saw that my teeth has become fangs. When I pulled my hair back, I saw that my ears had become pointed.
The transformation from a human to a wolf kept continuing on. Pretty soon I was a wolf running through the hills. I felt so free and alive, but it's strange: one minute I was on my bed, asleep, then I am here, running through the hills as a wolf. Right then, my stomach started to growl. I sniffed the air. The scent of deer filled the air, filling my scents. I couldn't ignore it, but that all stopped when a woman said, "It's okay, Ecoè."
I was so surprised when I heard the voice that I tripped over my own paws, tumbling over the ground. And I tumbled along the ground until I stopped. But the only thing I could think was, 'Ecoè? Who's Ecoè? She can't be talking to me, can she? But my name is Burdon.'
Suddenly the image of the enchanted forest was replaced by a fuzzy image of a woman. She was singing a lullaby.
Mary's lullaby.
My Father told me that only my mother sang me that song, and this woman was singing Mary's lullaby, so she might be my mother. The song got interrupted by another woman, then I saw another woman, again her image was fuzzy.
I was then splash with water.

I woke up, soaked. My Father has a bucket in his hands, obviously he threw the bucket of water on me. "What was that for?" I demanded.
"Breakfast is ready," said Father, and that was the only thing he said to me for a while. We were packing up and leaving when Malhaw asked, "Why are you wet?"
"I was," I yawned. "Sleeping when Father decided to throw a bucket of water," I yawned again, "onto me."
"He does do that when you're having a nightmare."
"But I wasn't having a nightmare."
"Well, then, I don't know why he would do that."
"You and me both."

-
Question(s) of the chapter:
Ever had a bad nightmare or a weird dream? What was it about? Tell in in thee(emphasis on the 'e') comment section. I don't usually remember my dreams, but one time I woke up from a dream about scary pirates trying to kidnap me or kill me. I'm glad it wasn't real.
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